PRESENTS
LondonA GUIDE TO
LONDON
ENGLAND

Roadrips Presents London | 5
It’s one of the world’s most visited cities and after
you see it for yourself, you’ll understand why.This
sport-mad city is chock full of things to do and see,
from first-class museums and galleries to designer
shopping, and there are heaps of attractions and
all things touristy. London has some of the top
hotels and restaurants in the world and is a great
destination for those seeking out the best of
the best.
While the city is so quintessentially British, it is also
incredibly diverse, with a third of the population
having been born abroad.The multicultural aspect
is a huge part of what makes London so unique;
where else can you can get a taste of so many other
ethnicities (sometimes literally at some of London’s
wonderful restaurants) without the culture shock?
Between Wimbledon and the Summer Games,
we’ve spent a lot of time in London and we want to
pass along some of the things we’ve learned about
this great city.
L

Roadrips Presents London | 7
TRAVELTIPS
London is a vibrant city with so much to see beyond
the Wimbledon Championships. While London
competes with other world capitals in terms of
entertainment, attractions, shopping and dining,
the city is relatively compact and once you get the
hang of it, it can be fairly easy to navigate. As is
usual when venturing outside of our home country,
there are always challenges present, usually
extending from differing customs and common
practices. One of the great things about London (at
least for our English-speaking guests) is that unlike
many other international destinations, there is no
language barrier. One of our goals at Roadtrips is
to help set your expectations and do whatever we
can to ensure that you are prepared for London’s
challenges and triumphs, and to create the best
possible experience for all of our guests.
L

8 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 9
GETTING TO LONDON
London is a major airline hub and as a result,
there are plenty of flight options from major
North American cities.The majority of these
international flights arrive into Heathrow
International Airport (LHR), which is located 15
miles west of the city. Gatwick Airport (LGW),
27 miles south of London, also handles a fair
amount of international traffic. London City
(LCY), Stansted (STN), and Luton (LTN) airports
also service London but mainly with domestic
and European flights.
To get to the city from Heathrow, we
recommend pre-booking a private car and driver
for a stress-free ride into central London. For the
utmost in comfort, Roadtrips can arrange your
transfer in a beautiful new Jaguar or Mercedes
Benz. If you’re feeling more adventurous, the
tube (London’s underground rail system), via
the Piccadilly line, is an inexpensive and quick
option. As an alternative, there are taxis of
course, but if you find yourself stuck in the
notorious London traffic, the meter can rise
quickly.
TRAVELTIMES &
TRANSPORTATION
Like most major world cities, traffic can be a
significant issue in London. In particular, when
it comes to major events such as Wimbledon,
traffic patterns are, by nature, always somewhat
dynamic. Roadtrips accesses official information
from local authorities and from our destination
partners to provide the best information
possible about traffic, estimated travel times,
and permitted drop off points at the All
England LawnTennis Club (AELTC). Roadtrips’
Wimbledon guests will benefit hugely from
our experience working at multiple Wimbledon
Championships as well as the 2012 London
Summer Games.
We strongly recommend that you plan your
journey to Wimbledon in advance, with the
assistance of the Roadtrips At-Your-Service
Desk. Our personal concierges can arrange a
luxury vehicle and driver to take the stress
out of getting to Wimbledon. It is important
to take into account that roads servicingThe
Championships will be heavily congested, and
extra time may be needed to complete your
journey.
There are plenty of public transportation
options available for getting to the Wimbledon
Championships as well, either via tube, train,
tram, or bus.TheTransport for London website
offers a journey planner that can assist and of
course, the Roadtrips At-Your-Service Desk is
well-prepared to help you plan your route as
well.
DINING OUT&
RESERVATIONS
Boasting a long list of Michelin-starred
restaurants, London is a standout in the
restaurant scene. London restaurants are
generally open for lunch around noon and
dinner from 6 pm. Often Londoners take later
meals than we are used to in North America,
so if you find yourself without a reservation
for dinner, you can opt for an earlier seating
time and will most likely find a table. Many
restaurants also offer a pre-theatre seating
before 7pm, often a special pre-set menu. For
top-end restaurants it’s wise to reserve a table
in advance, either directly with the restaurant,
or with the assistance of the Roadtrips At-Your-
Service Desk. Be sure to check out our London
Restaurant Guide to hear about some of our
favorites.
HOW TO DIALLOCALLY
AND INTERNATIONALLY
To call a London phone number from a US
or Canadian phone (mobile or land line) you
must dial 011 + Country Code (44 for United
Kingdom) + Area Code (20 for London) + the
local phone number.
To call a US or Canadian phone number from
your North American mobile phone you must
dial 00 + 1 + Area Code +Telephone Number.
LANGUAGE
The language spoken in England is of course,
English. While this makes things easy for our
Anglophone guests, even those most skilled

10 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 11
at the language may be occasionally tested
(and amused) with the notorious British slang.
While you’ll hear more English than any other
tongue, London is a very diverse city and you
may hear dozens of different languages spoken
throughout your visit.
WEATHER
Summer can be very pleasant with
temperatures averaging 18°C (64°F) and often
rising into the low 20s (70s F), perfect for
taking in a match. While warm summers are
the norm, London does occasionally experience
heat waves with temperatures soaring well
above 30°C (86°F).
The number of rainy days is fairly consistent
throughout the year with between 11 and
15 rainy days each month. Overall rainfall is
highest in November and August and is lowest
in March and April. Centre Court at the AELTC
does have a retractable roof, so that you can
enjoy the tennis regardless of the weather.
BANKING & LOCALCURRENCY
The UK’s currency is the pound sterling (£ /
GBP). Despite being a member of the European
Union, the UK has not adopted the euro. Just as
Americans have dollars and cents, the UK has
pounds and pence, with 100 pence equaling
one pound. More colloquially, pence are often
referred to simply as “p,” a pound is known as
a “quid”, a five-pound note is a “fiver” and a
ten-pound note a “tenner.”
Credit cards, especially Visa and Mastercard,
are widely accepted in London’s restaurants,
bars, cafés and shops. American Express and
Diners Club cards are less commonly accepted.
There are plenty of cash machines (also known
as cashpoints or ATMs) dotted around London.
Most accept international cards with the Visa,
Plus, Mastercard, Cirrus or Maestro symbols.
Note that if you have a non-UK account you
will almost certainly have to pay a charge when
you withdraw cash.
ELECTRICITY
Voltage in London runs between 220-240 V. You will
need to use a converter, which allows your electronic
device to run on a different voltage, especially for
anything that runs on 110 V. Most outlets in London
are the European 3-prong style or two round,
oversized prongs and will require an adapter to
convert a North American pronged plug to fit the
outlet.
TIME ZONE
London is on British SummerTime (BST) duringThe
Championships. During Daylight SavingsTime (the
last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October),
London is one hour ahead of Greenwich MeanTime
(GMT/UTC). In the winter, London is the same as
GMT.
It’s standard practice to leave a tip
for good service in a restaurant,
generally 10-15% of your total bill.
Some restaurants may include a
service fee in the total (particularly
for larger groups) so it’s wise to
check your bill first.Tipping the
bar staff in London’s many pubs is
not necessary or expected. As for
taxis, it’s common to show your
appreciation by rounding up to the
nearest pound, or leaving up to
10% for longer rides or
exceptional service.
WHATABOUTTIPPING?

12 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 13
TRANSPORTATION
London is a very compact city, making it easy to
take in a lot of its spectacular attractions in a day.
Roadtrips’ guests travelling to Wimbledon will have
the benefit of our At-Your-Service Desk to assist
with planning transportation to the event and
throughout their stay in London. For many of our
guests, a private hosted vehicle will be the most
desirable transportation option for getting toThe
Championships at Wimbledon.
As one would expect, London has plenty of other
transportation options available, with the tube
(underground railroad) being the most popular. If
you plan on using primarily public transportation,
we recommend picking up a Visitor Oyster Card, a
prepaid combined travel pass that allows you to
access the tube, bus and most rail services.
.
L

14 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 15
TAXI
Black cabs (which are not necessarily black) can
be hailed in the street or at designated ranks
situated in prominent places including most
mainline rail, tube and bus stations.They can
also be booked by telephone. If the yellowTAXI
sign is illuminated, the cab is available for hire.
Fares are metered, and cabs are licensed to carry
up to five people plus luggage. All black cabs
are wheelchair accessible.The black cabs (also
referred to as taxis) are different from minicabs,
which must be pre-booked.
PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES
Roadtrips can arrange for a private vehicle for
those preferring the comforts of a dedicated
car, including brand new Jaguars and Mercedes
Benz. In addition, the concierge at our premium
hotels can make private chartered vehicle
arrangements on request, when and
where available.
UNDERGROUND
London’s underground rail network, or ‘the tube’
as it is more commonly known, is usually the
quickest and easiest way of travelling around
the city. Greater London is served by 12 lines;
the color-coded routes have clear signage and
lots of connections to service most of the city.
To get to Wimbledon on theTube, take the
District Line to Southfields, then follow the signs
for the short 15 minute walk to the gate.
TRAM
ArelativenewcomerontheLondontransport
scene,London’stramnetworkbeganservicein
2000.Thetramnetwork(Tramlink)runsbetween
BeckenhamandWimbledonandiswheelchair
accessible.
BUS
London buses run an extensive network
throughout the city, stopping at designated
bus stops. Many routes operate 24 hours a
day, though night service is less frequent. All
buses are wheelchair accessible. During the
Wimbledon Championships, there is direct bus
service to Wimbledon from St. Pancras, Euston,
Baker Street, Marble Arch, and Victoria Stations.
CAR RENTAL
As there are so many transportation options in
London, car hire isn’t necessary or required to
get around. Navigating the streets of London
can be a hassle, finding parking even more so. If
you do feel a car is the best option, London has
all the major international car rental agencies.
Ensure that you have proper insurance, good
maps and that you stay on the “right” side of
the road!
WALKING
It’sverypossibletoexploretheessentialsof
Londonbyfootifyouprefer.It’sworthittograba
mapfromyourhotelconcierge,planoutyourroute
andtakeastrollalongtheThames.Ifyougettired,
thereareplentyofoptionstogetyoubacktoyour
hotel–ataxi,adouble-deckerbusorthetubeare
allveryaccessible.TheLondonA-Zguideisalso
veryhelpfulifyouaregoingtotrytonavigatethe
streetsonyourown;it’ssoldinbookstores,tube
andtrainstationsalloverthecity.
CYCLING
A 24-hour bike rental program called Santander
Cycles has a network of over 700 stations
around London.The first 30 minutes are
free but beyond that the charge goes up
incrementally by the half hour.The program
allows you to borrow a bike and then return to
any station. Payment is by credit card or debit
card only. A guided bike tour is also a great way
to see the city of London

16 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 17
TOP 5 THINGS TO
SEE IN LONDON
L

18 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 19
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London
residence of Britain’s sovereigns since 1837 and today
is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch.
Marvel at the magnificent architecture and be sure to
stay for the changing of the guard. If you happen to be
in London when the Palace is open to visitors (typically
late summer and fall), you can tour the magnificent
staterooms, lavishly furnished with some of the greatest
treasures from the Royal Collection.
NearestLondonUndergroundStations:
St James’s Park - District and Circle Lines (0.4 miles)
Victoria - Victoria, District and Circle Lines (0.4 miles)
GreenPark-Piccadilly,JubileeandVictoriaLines(0.5miles)
Hyde Park Corner - Piccadilly Line (0.7 miles)
KENSINGTON PALACE
After a major £12 million project in early 2012 to create
a palace for everyone, Kensington Palace features newly
landscaped gardens, entrance loggia, free public spaces
and a café. Inside, the first permanent interpretative story,
Victoria Revealed, is a fascinating story of QueenVictoria
from her childhood to her old age. Additionally, visitors
can explore the beautiful state apartments and a small
evocative display of dresses belonging to Princess Diana.
NearestLondonUndergroundStations:
HighStreetKensington-DistrictandCircleLines(0.4miles)
Queensway - Central Line (0.5 miles)
TOWER OF LONDON
The tower of London spans over 900 years of British
history. Fortress, palace, prison, arsenal and garrison, it
is one of the best-preserved and most famous fortified
buildings in the world, and houses the priceless Crown
Jewels, armories, Yeoman Warders and ravens.
NearestLondonUndergroundStations:
Tower Hill - Circle and District Lines (0.2 miles)
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Theworld-famouschurchpresentsastunningtripthrough
thehistoryoftheBritishIsles.Aworkingchurch,theAbbeyis
hometocountlesstombsandmemorialstothemostfamous
kingsandqueens,statesmenandsoldiers,poetsandpriests,
andwasmorerecentlythevenuefortheRoyal Wedding.
NearestLondonUndergroundStations:
StJames’sPark-DistrictandCircleLines(0.2miles)
Westminster-Jubilee,DistrictandCircleLines(0.2miles)
BOROUGH MARKET
Borough Market is London’s most renowned food market;
it’s a source of exceptional British and international
produce.This market has developed into a vast repository
of culinary knowledge and understanding. It’s a place to
explore, to ask questions, to discover new flavors and to
savor a unique atmosphere.
NearestLondonUndergroundStations:
London Bridge - Northern and Jubilee Lines (0.1 miles)
Borough - Northern Line (0.3 miles)

20 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 21
ACCOMMODATIONS
London really has it all when comes to
accommodations; you can find everything including
a great selection of charming boutique hotels and
the utmost in luxury properties. With so many
diverse neighborhoods to explore, it’s easy to find a
perfect fit for your home in London.
All of our London hotels are centrally located to
give you an ideal base for exploring the city. Our
accommodations have been carefully selected not
only for the location, but also for their service,
amenities, and comfort. Choose from some of
the best hotels in the city, includingThe Ritz,The
Corinthia andThe Savoy.
L

22 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 23
ROADTRIPS
RESTAURANT
GUIDETO LONDON
London is a fabulous destination for a foodie. As one
of the most diverse cities on the planet, you can find
almost any type of food, and often at any hour of the
day (or night). You’ll find everything from mouth-
watering takeaway at hole-in-the-wall type places to
the finest of dining at Michelin-starred restaurants.
We’ve listed some of our favorites below, sorted by
neighborhood.
L

24 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 25
MAYFAIR
LE CAPRICE
Cuisine - European
Whether for lunch or dinner, Le Caprice serves
delicious upscale Modern European comfort
food.The menu varies widely, featuring Confit
duck leg and Black Mount venison alongside
fish and chips and the Caprice burger. Incredibly
popular is the salmon fishcake served with
buttered spinach and sorrel sauce. You can also
give their special brunch menu a taste, available
on Sundays.
www.le-caprice.co.uk
HAKKASAN
Cuisine - Asian
Highly recommended is Hakkasan, a Michelin-
starred gem in Mayfair. Indulgent and delicious
asian cooking is prepared under the watchful eye
of executive head chefTong Chee Hwee and his
creations are complemented by a bumping and
stylish atmosphere.
hakkasan.com/locations/hakkasan-mayfair
THE WOLSELEY
Cuisine - European
Not sure whatyou are in the mood for?The
Wolseley isyour answer. A grand café-restaurant
that buzzes from early morning until late, seven
days a week,The Wolseley features eclectic
menus for any time of day including breakfast,
afternoon tea, lunch, dinner and an all-day menu
which encompasses European classics.You can
satisfyyour hunger with a wide array of choices
from eggs benedict to delicious soups and
sandwiches to rib eye steaks and Cornish crab.
www.thewolseley.com
AVISTA RESTAURANT
Cuisine - Italian
If excellent Italian cuisine is whatyou seek, look
no further than Avista restaurant.The Burrata
starter is an absolute must, which can be enjoyed
with any of their varied main courses including
pastas, fish, and meat-based dishes.The chef’s
own version ofTiramisu prepared al minuto and
served in a martini glass is top-notch.
www.avistarestaurant.com
BABBO RESTAURANT
Cuisine - Italian
Babbo’s seasonal menus showcase the best
of simple Italian classics done incredibly well.
The restaurant has a great vibe and wine list to
complement the delicious cuisine.The menu
includes fresh bread and home made pastas,
as well as a number of mains that feature both
meat and seafood as the highlighted ingredient.
Highly recommended is the traditional veal
Milanese with rocket salad and cherry tomatoes.
The service and the food are both excellent,
making Babbo a great choice for lunch or dinner.
www.babborestaurant.co.uk
TAMARIND
Cuisine - Indian
For a taste of something different, try
the Michelin-starredTamarind, a modern
Indian restaurant with an extensive menu
and excellent service. Recommended is the
Hyderabadi Shank, a slow-cooked lamb shank
with turmeric, yogurt, browned garlic and freshly
ground spices, which your server will debone for
you at the table. Also delicious is the Awadhi
Murgh, boneless chicken in an aromatic sauce
with melon seeds, yogurt and spices. Finish
your meal with the house specialty velvety
dark chocolate mousse flavored with a hint of
cinnamon and orange zest
www.tamarindrestaurant.com
SOHO
THE ROCK & SOLE PLAICE
Cuisine - Fish & Chips
ForthoseseekingaBritishstaple,headtoTheRock
&SolePlaiceforsomeexcellentfishandchips.The
restaurantservesdeliciouslybatteredfreshfishand
hand-cutchips,popularwithtouristsandlocalsalike.
Thereareafewindoorandoutdoortablesbutyou
canalsoordertotakeawayandenjoyyourmeal
whereveryouchoose.
www.rockandsoleplaice.com

26 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 27
BOCCA DI LUPO
Cuisine - Italian
AminutewalkfromPiccadillyliesthetrendyBocca
DiLupo,servinguniquetapas-styledishesfrom
acrossItaly.Themenuchangesalmosteverydayto
keepupwithchangingseasonsandtoensurethe
freshestingredients.Themenufeaturesamultitude
ofoptionstosatisfyyourappetiteincluding
pastas,soupsandstews,meatandseafood,all
complementedbystartersandsidessuchasthe
delectableMozzarellaBocconciniFrittiRomani,so
goodyouwillwanttohaveitfordesserttoo
www.boccadilupo.com
SOUTHBANK
OXO BRASSERIE
Cuisine - British
If a fabulous view and fabulous food is what
you seek then the OXO Brasserie is sure to
please. Located on the eighth floor of the OXO
Tower with floor to ceiling windows, it provides
panoramic views of theThames and the city.
You can also request a table on the terrace to
enjoy an al fresco summer dining experience.
A favorite starter is the San Daniele ham with
caramelized Comice pear, goat’s curd, toasted
brioche and truffle honey hazelnuts.
www.harveynichols.com/restaurant/the-
oxo-tower/brasserie
ST.JAMES’S
THE BALCON
Cuisine - French/British
Just around the corner fromTrafalgar Square,
you’ll findThe Balcon, a modern London and
Parisian grand brasserie. Enjoy excellent service
and spectacular dishes such as the French onion
soup and specialtyTrealy Farm Charcuterie
Salad with Roquefort and caramelized pears,
and those are just the starters.The menu offers
varied mains, from rotisserie chicken with baked
potatoes and sage and onion stuffing to slow
cooked Scottish beef and foie gras cottage pie
with chanterelle mushrooms.
www.thebalconlondon.com
STRAND
THE HAWKSMOOR
Cuisine - British Steakhouse
We know the words British, steakhouse,
and great meal don’t usually go together.
The Hawksmoor is the exception to that
rule!The best beef in London (served with a
decidedly British twist) can be found here in
a former underground brewery that has been
transformed into a hip, Covent Garden dining
room. Definite recommends include shared
chateaubriand for two, chips fried in beef
drippings and succulent creamed spinach.
thehawksmoor.com
LES DEUX SALONS
Cuisine - French
This bustling Grand Parisian brasserie situated
in Covent Garden serves delicious classic and
modern French food.The menu features
starters, salads, terrines, soups, and a wealth
of mains including dishes from the charcoal
grill and of course, the classic slow cooked beef
with carrots in a red wine sauce that never
disappoints. Finish your meal with a warm apple
tart and vanilla ice cream, perfection!
www.lesdeuxsalons.co.uk
THE SAVOYGRILL
Cuisine - Steakhouse
The menu at Gordon Ramsay’sThe Savoy Grill
is presented much like an a la carte steakhouse
with numerous beef and seafood variations to
choose from and sides such as honey carrots
and cauliflower gratin to supplement your main
course. We recommend the delicious lobster
bisque to start, which is presented with lobster
pieces topped with fresh butter while the server
pours the bisque directly from the saucepan to
your bowl. For dessert, try their pistachio soufflé
served a la mode.
gordonramsayrestaurants.com/savoy-grill

28 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 29
ASIA DE CUBA
Cuisine - Asian Fusion
Asia De Cuba features an unassuming façade
with no exterior signage so as to maintain
the secrecy of this hidden gem.The menu, a
fusion of Asian and Cuban cuisine features
large portions that are perfect for sharing,
such as their grilled strip steak main course,
served with gingered chickpea fries.The sweet
brioche Mexican doughnuts are a must, rolled
in cinnamon sugar and filled with butterscotch
sauce they are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
www.morganshotelgroup.com/originals/
originals-st-martins-lane-london/eat-drink/
asia-de-cuba
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
GOODMAN
Cuisine - Steakhouse
London’s version of the New York Steakhouse,
Goodman’s chefs pride themselves on serving
you the most tender full-flavored steak in
London, only ever using the finest prime beef.
Although steaks are king at Goodman, their
all-day menu features plenty of other tempting
options such as the Goodman Burger served
with the traditional chips and unique sides like
the lobster mac and cheese and truffle chips.
www.goodmanrestaurants.com
JAMIE’S ITALIAN
Cuisine - Italian
Jamie’s Italian recreates fantastic rustic dishes
in a relaxed, neighborhood atmosphere.The
menu offers a wide selection of antipasti, pasta,
mains, sides, and desserts. For your starter,
try the Bruschetta, topped with seasonal
ingredients, it is a definitely a tasty way to start
your meal. For your main course, the chicken
liver tortellini, featuring Norfolk Black chicken
livers flamed with Vin Santo, crispy pancetta and
a silky sage sauce is highly recommended.
www.jamieoliver.com/italian/restaurants

30 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 31
WIMBLEDON
FACTS+FIGURES
L

32 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 33
From June 27th to July 10th, 2016, the tennis world will descend upon the historic All England Lawn
Tennis Club, where since 1877, many of the sport’s greatest competitors have tested their skill and
determination on Wimbledon’s famous natural grass courts.
Arguably the most impressive and prestigious major tennis tournament, the early rounds of
Singles and Doubles are played during the first week, with top seeds playing on the Centre Court
and Courts 1 and 2.The Ladies’ and Men’s Singles Finals take place over the final weekend of the
Championships. Each year, five major events are contested, as well as four junior events and three
invitational events.The five major trophies which the players compete for during the course of the
Wimbledon Championships include:
• The Gentlemen’s SinglesTrophy, which was
first presented by the All England Club in
1887. It replaced the Field Cup (1877-1883)
and the Challenge Cup (1884-1886), which
were both won by William Renshaw after
twice winning the gentlemen’s title three
times in succession.
• The Ladies’ SinglesTrophy is a silver salver,
sometimes referred to as the Rosewater
Dish or Venus Rosewater Dish, and was
first presented to the Champion when the
challenge round was introduced in 1886.
• The Gentlemen’s DoublesTrophy is a silver
challenge cup for the Gentlemen’s Pairs’
competition. When the doubles moved to
Wimbledon in 1884, the Oxford University
LawnTennis Club presented the trophy to
the All England Club.
• The Ladies’ DoublesTrophy is an elegant
silver cup and cover, known asThe Duchess
of Kent Challenge Cup, and was presented
to the Club in 1949 by HRHThe Princess
Marina, President of the All England Club.
• The Mixed DoublesTrophy is a silver
challenge cup and cover presented to the
All England Club by the family of the late
S.H. Smith. S.H. Smith won the doubles title
in 1902 and 1906, in partnership with the
late F.L. Riseley.

34 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 35
THE HISTORYOF
WIMBLEDON
Wimbledon is one of the most prestigious tennis
tournaments in the world today and is the only
grand slam still played on grass. But if you go
back in history, it had a very humble and rather
unremarkable beginning. It started as a minor
sideshow in 1875 at the All England Croquet Club
based at Worple Road, Wimbledon.The club was
founded in 1868 at the height of a croquet craze.
Over time, when lawn tennis superseded croquet,
the club went through a few name changes and is
today known as the All England LawnTennis Club.
L

36 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 37
The person responsible for introducing lawn tennis at the club was Major Walter Clopton Wingfield,
a British army officer who is regarded as the founder of lawn tennis. At that time, the sport was
in its infancy and was called Sphairistike. He set one lawn aside for the sport, leaving the rest
for croquet. Soon the game grew in popularity and the club changed its name toThe All England
Croquet and LawnTennis Club.
The first tennis championship at the club was held in 1877 and it was a men’s singles tournament.
It was held to raise money for the pony-drawn roller for the croquet lawns. At that time the serves
were made underarm. Spencer Gore, the winner of the year and possibly the first Wimbledon
champion, is reported to have said that “lawn tennis will never rank among our great games.” He
couldn’t have been more wrong.
The club introduced Ladies’ Singles and Gentlemen’s Doubles in 1884 and Ladies’ Doubles and Mixed
Doubles in 1913. In 1922, the club moved to the larger ground on Church Road, Wimbledon where it
remains today.The move was prompted by the popularity of the Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen,
who won 31 tennis championships between 1914 and 1926.
The All England LawnTennis Club, now popularly known as the All-England Club, currently has 19
grass courts, 5 red clay courts, 3 continental clay courts, one American clay court and five indoor
courts.There are also 22 Aorangi Park grass courts, which are primarily used as practice courts.The
club holds the Wimbledon Championships over two weeks in late June and early July every year and
attracts an average attendance of 450,000 people.

38 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 39
WHATMAKES
WIMBLEDON
SO FUN?
This year we had one of our best trips to
Wimbledon ever, and we got fantastic feedback
from our guests about how great the experience
was. We asked our fabulous host Sam Buffie to tell
us why this year was so good, and what it is that
makes this such a fun sporting event to attend.
L
Roadtrips Host: Sam Buffie

40 London | A Guide to London, England Roadrips Presents London | 41
So Sam, what is it that makes Wimbledon
so special?
Wimbledon always seems like it is such an
exclusive event, I think in part because it is held
at such a small venue. It feels like an intimate
venue, because there’s only seating for 14,000
so really no matter where you are sat you can
see exactly what’s going on.This includes being
able to see into the Royal Box. You can actually
look over and see which members of the royal
family are there, which is pretty cool.
Plus, it is such an iconic event and so
quintessentially British, and there are all
those things that come with it, such as having
strawberries and cream there, and visiting
the champagne bar or having Pimm’s and
lemonade.
What is the atmosphere like at the event?
Wimbledon is super laid-back and friendly. It
isn’t super dressy - people are dressed smartly
but it isn’t over the top.The grounds there are
just so beautiful and well maintained that it is
a pleasure to just be there. Even in the court,
people chat with their neighbors, which makes
for a really sweet experience.
Was the tennis especially fantastic this year?
Oh yes, it really was.To be able to see Andy
Murray and Roger Federer play was really cool.
Just to be able to get tickets alone to that match
makes the experience we were able to offer our
guests so unique.
When guests are staying in London for
Wimbledon, are they close to lots of other
major attractions?
Absolutely.There are so many iconic sights in
London. A few of our guests’ favourites are
Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, theTower of
London and the London Eye. And of course
keeping an eye out for royals at Buckingham or
Kensington Palace. Many clients enjoy taking
in a stadium tour as well - such as Wembley or
Arsenal.The tube makes it easy to get around
but some visitors prefer to have a private
vehicle. London is just a fantastic city with world
renowned attractions and activities.
What reactions do you commonly get from
guests that we take to Wimbledon?
The most frequent comment we hear from our
clients is that Wimbledon was always one of the
top sporting events they wanted to attend - it
was their bucket list trip and did not disappoint.
I think the atmosphere of Centre Court is very
unique, and knowing that it is a favourite event
for the players makes it even more special.
We’ve received very positive feedback about the
organization and detail put into their trips too.
Being a spectator at Wimbledon is a one of a
kind experience, and very special indeed.